Current Ramp-up Experiments Using ECRW on TRIAM-1M

Abstract

The operation of tokamak devices is based on the principle of the transformer, so it has been considered that pulse operation of such devices is inevitable. But the superconducting high-field tokamak TRIAM-1M has been demonstrated continuous operation for last 15 years and succeeded in sustaining 3 hours of constant operation in 2001. Fusion reactors of the future will use the center solenoid (CS) coil only in the ramp-up phase of the plasma current. If the coil is removed from the tokamak device, the device can be simplified and its cost will be decreased. In TRIAM-1M experiments, a perfect CS-free ramp-up was demonstrated and succeeded in sustaining the plasma current longer than 30 s. In this paper, the operation scenario, especially plasma position control, and the results of the analysis of plasma control are described.